MARCH IS NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS MONTH [by Tamara Sellman RPSGT CCSH for Advanced Cardiovascular Sleep Disorders Center] It might be surprising to learn that children have sleep disorders (beyond the common resistance to bedtime). However, school-aged kids can experience a wide range of sleep disorders, from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to insomnia to narcolepsy to parasomnias like sleepwalking and night terrors. If your child’s pediatrician routinely asks about their sleep health, congratulations! That’s ...

MARCH IS NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS MONTH [by Tamara Sellman RPSGT CCSH for Advanced Cardiovascular Sleep Disorders Center] With the return of light following the time change, and this week's vernal equinox (which happens at 11:15am on Tuesday, March 20 here in Auburn), it's worth noting that our sleep-wake cycles depend upon our brains to process light to keep our rhythms on track.​ What is sometimes overlooked, however, is the importance of our ...

MARCH IS NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS MONTH [by Tamara Sellman RPSGT CCSH for Advanced Cardiovascular Sleep Disorders Center] Sometimes, it's not getting kids to go to sleep at bedtime that's a problem for some families. Sometimes it's the more scary sleep problems known as nightmares and sleep terrors that keep both kids and parents awake at night. Believe it or not, while these both sound like the same sleep disorder, they are two ...

MARCH IS NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS MONTH [by Tamara Sellman RPSGT CCSH for Advanced Cardiovascular Sleep Disorders Center] Tomorrow is dubbed "Sleepy Monday" in response to the spring change to Daylight Saving Time, and for good reason. We're all a little more sleepy than usual on a Monday morning after we "spring" our clocks forward. While this may seem like a quaint characterization of modern-day America, the reality is a bit darker: Sleepy Monday is ...

MARCH IS NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS MONTH [by Tamara Sellman RPSGT CCSH for Advanced Cardiovascular Sleep Disorders Center] This Saturday, March 10, might be a great way to sleep in... for as much as 48 hours, to raise awareness about a sleep disorder known as narcolepsy. Suddenly Sleepy Saturday is a national campaign organized by the Narcolepsy Network. Our state of Alabama has already joined in this important proclamation and recognition, joining Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois ...

MARCH IS NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS MONTH [by Tamara Sellman RPSGT CCSH for Advanced Cardiovascular Sleep Disorders Center] Comedian Mike Birbiglia (pictured, right) knows a thing or two about sleep disorders. In fact, his career took a positive swing upward after he released his biographic film, Sleepwalk With Me, back in 2012. Since then, he's become a celebrated spokesperson for certain sleep disorders that fall under the category of Parasomnias. He suffers from REM Behavior ...

[by Tamara Sellman RPSGT CCSH for Advanced Cardiovascular Sleep Disorders Center] MARCH IS NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS MONTH In just one week (on Sunday, March 11 at 2am), we’ll be setting our clocks forward again in recognition of the century-old practice known as Daylight Saving Time. At that time, we gain an hour of sunlight and (theoretically) lose an hour of sleep. The fact is, more sunlight or not, you can still prepare for the ...

[by Tamara Sellman RPSGT CCSH for Advanced Cardiovascular Sleep Disorders Center] FROM OUR MONTH-LONG SERIES, "SWEET DREAMS SWEET HEARTS," FOR NATIONAL HEART HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH Often, when we read articles in the newspaper or online, references to “having a stroke” are made in the context of cardiovascular disease. This could be confusing; after all, isn’t having a stroke something that occurs in the brain? How could it be related to heart disease? Let’s ...